As someone who takes the Amtrak a lot between the megalopolis and the Commie Cesspool, I can attest to this. The Boston-NYC-Washington trains are recently much more crowded, making the wait time in the cafe car to obtain a scotch significantly longer.

Travelers Shift to Rail as Cost of Fuel Rises
By MATTHEW L. WALD
June 21, 2008

WASHINGTON — Record prices for gasoline and jet fuel should be good news for Amtrak, as travelers look for alternatives to cut the cost of driving and flying.

And they are good news, up to a point.

Amtrak set records in May, both for the number of passengers it carried and for ticket revenues — all the more remarkable because May is not usually a strong travel month.

But the railroad, and its suppliers, have shrunk so much, largely because of financial constraints, that they would have difficulty growing quickly to meet the demand.

Many of the long-distance trains are already sold out for some days this summer. Want to take Amtrak’s daily Crescent train from New York to New Orleans? It is sold out on July 5, 6, 7 and 8. Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia, on July 5? The train is sold out, but Amtrak will sell you a bus ticket.

“We’re starting to bump up against our own capacity constraints,” said R. Clifford Black, a spokesman for Amtrak.

The problem is that rail has shriveled. The number of “passenger miles” traveled on intercity rail has dropped by about two-thirds since 1960, and the companies that build rail cars and locomotives have also shrunk, making it hard to expand.

Didn't some asshole say recently that Americans 'Don't Have To Fly'?:rolleyes:

Sonnabend

06-21-2008, 12:41 PM

Didn't some asshole say recently that Americans 'Don't Have To Fly'?

..and how do you suggest they get to anyplace OUTSIDE the US?

LogansPapa

06-21-2008, 12:48 PM

..and how do you suggest they get to anyplace OUTSIDE the US?

Joe Public? Not. Spend your travel dollasr in the United States. Screw countries overseas that have built their dreams on the backs of American tourist dollars. Business travel will continue, to a point, to the EU and Asia as before, because the corporations will fold that cost into the cost of their product. Regular citizens don't have that option. Go see the Grand Canyon and let folks on the Barrier Reef get a real job.;)

Sonnabend

06-21-2008, 12:50 PM

...I take it all back, you're not stupid.

You're insane.

LogansPapa

06-21-2008, 12:54 PM

...I take it all back, you're not stupid.

You're just insane.

Thank you. BTW - I'm in the aerospace industry and even I can see we can't afford the cost of jet fuel any more. This is an economic war. A war fostered by the current president.

:cool:

Sonnabend

06-21-2008, 12:56 PM

Thank you. BTW - I'm in the aerospace industry and even I can see we can't afford the cost of jet fuel any more

No, I'm an FAA Repair Station owner. And you're in charge of bed-pans.;)

[QUOTE=Sonnabend;11088]No.

What was the price of gasoline on January 20th, 2000? What is the price today? And why?:confused:

Sonnabend

06-21-2008, 01:07 PM

No, I'm an FAA Repair Station owner. And you're in charge of bed-pans.

That was sixteen years ago. Nice try and way off.

Phillygirl

06-21-2008, 01:13 PM

Bedpans and janitors aside....there is so much to see in the U.S. that so many of our citizens never take advantage of. I'm constantly amazed that so many of my friends and colleagues believe the Jersey shore is the only cultural experience that is worth offering their children.

There is so much to offer here in the U.S. (and abroad) that we just don't see. I, for example, have barely seen any of the country west of Ohio. I'm trying to do it, bit by bit. I'm also surprised to hear of so many people out west that have never been to D.C.

If I had the time, I would love to take a month off just to drive out west and see more of the country. I'm not trying to slight the other countries, but we have a ton to see and do right here. Take a train, drive your car, get on a ferry...just get out and do it!

Cold Warrior

06-21-2008, 01:17 PM

The Jersey Shore -- a "cultural experience!!!" :eek::eek:

Phillygirl

06-21-2008, 01:19 PM

The Jersey Shore -- a "cultural experience!!!" :eek::eek:

It's not so much now that they've banned speedos.

Sonnabend

06-21-2008, 01:23 PM

Phillygirl: tourism is just one reason people fly.

One.

LogansPapa

06-21-2008, 01:23 PM

That was sixteen years ago. Nice try and way off.

And the gas price answers?:p

Phillygirl

06-21-2008, 01:26 PM

Phillygirl: tourism is just one reason people fly.

One.

I know. But I'm in vacation mode right now and trying to get my flights nailed down. it's on my mind. Carry on.

Sonnabend

06-21-2008, 01:28 PM

And the gas price answers?

See an economist.

LogansPapa

06-21-2008, 02:02 PM

See an economist.

Reference calendars from 2000 thru today and you'll have a clue. Daddy's buddies are giggling with glee and you still can't grasp it. What a chump.:rolleyes:

InspiredHome

06-21-2008, 07:30 PM

My husband and I are flying out to Branson, MO next month. Paid for airfare, car rental, and hotel thanks to Uncle Sam's stimulus rebate.

Sonnabend

06-21-2008, 08:30 PM

Reference calendars from 2000 thru today and you'll have a clue. Daddy's buddies are giggling with glee and you still can't grasp it. What a chump.

http://www.therazor.org/images/bush_derangement_syndrome-s.jpg

lacarnut

06-21-2008, 09:01 PM

....there is so much to see in the U.S. that so many of our citizens never take advantage of.

There is so much to offer here in the U.S. that we just don't see.

Very true. One day I plan to take a 3 month trip and visit every national park west of the Mississippi. I have been to most of them but that was over 40 years ago.